THE SECOND OBSERVATION.
COncerning the circumstance of time,* 1.1 when Caesar went out of his Camp, which is noted to be in the third watch, we must understand that the Romans divided the whole night into four watches, every watch containing three houres: and these watches were distinguished by severall notes and sounds of Cornets or Trumpets; that by the distinction and diversitie thereof it might easily be known what watch was founded. The charge and office of sounding the watches be∣longed to the chiefest Centurion of a legion, whom they called Primipilus, or Primus Centu∣rio; at whose pavilion the Trumpeters attended, to be directed by his houre-glasse.
The first watch began alwaies at sunne-setting, and continued three houres (I understand such houres as the night contained, being divided into twelve: for the Romans divided their night as well as their day into twelve equall spaces, which they called houres:) the second watch continued untill midnight; and then the third watch began, and contained likewise three houres: the fourth was equall to the rest, and continued untill sunne-rising. So that by this phrase de tertia vigilia, we understand that Caesar went out of his Camp in the third watch, which was after midnight: and so we must conceive of the rest of the watches, as often as we shall find them mentioned in historie.